Finding Calmness in Chaos – Young Adults Enjoy, Learn at Retreat Joyful young adults came together at the mesmerizing Camp Cedar Lake in Big Bear to study and reflect upon the lessons of in Chapter 14 of the Bhagavad Gita. The retreat organized by dedicated CHYKs of CMLA, was led by Vivekji of Chinmaya Mission Niagara and Pittsburgh. Teaching young adults to transcend their gunas to find calmness in the chaos of life, he was the guiding force throughout the Memorial day weekend.
The youth engaged in learning through enlightening discourses and dialog, discussion among themselves, and in insightful workshops conducted by CHYK-LA. Notable was a workshop in which the CHYKs made their own japa mala bracelets out of rosewood and agate beads. In addition to this, the youth bonded through energetic outdoor activities, an impressive open mic night, and a bonfire followed by stargazing in the woods. The retreat was specially effective in its teaching about mental fortitude as attendees were challenged to silently contemplate throughout the weekend. Retreat attendees later said that the weekend helped them find a valuable path towards seeking happiness and had inspired them to spread their ideas beyond the CHYK community.